Days of Infamy--RA Scen 70

[John 3rd]

To provide some perspective here are the totals on ship losses to this date. The Japanese have only lost CarDiv2, a BB, and a BC for major losses. The Allies losses are simply staggering. Name the class of combatant and it is very bad for the opposing Fleets.

Totals:

[FatR]

I've looked at your economics screen, and it's strange. I have more oil centers and less heavy industry, but I suffer increasing fuel deficit. Maybe Michael can comment on how your fuel pipeline works? Looks like I'm doing something wrong, but what? The tracker does not show any fuel wastage.

[ny59giants]

PM sent to both of you.

[John 3rd]

Life has been crazy with large amounts of hours working at the hotel, family commitments, and life excitement. This confluence of events has forced me to quit a regular AAR. Many of you know how much I enjoy writing a good AAR, however, life has precluded that.

As we get ready to release RA 3.0, Lew and I have continued to bang out the turns and have just reached December 7, 1942. We have concluded one full year of the war and this milestone warrants a few Postings and, perhaps, some musings regarding the Reluctant Admiral Mod.

To begin with here is the current intelligence screen. Take a look at the VP differential, A-t-A losses, ship and army loss scores:

[John 3rd]

At the beginning Lew fought an amazingly aggressive campaign that surprised me initially. He attempted many counter-punches at the initial Invasion Forces and the first six-eight weeks were quite bloody. As in any good campaign, I had to change my style somewhat to EXPECT an aggressive counter to whatever plan was currently unfolding. Once that adjustment was made Allied losses started to climb.

The pivot point came with my decision to go after eastern India. Many know I am NOT a fan of the ground game within AE, however, I wanted to give it a try. The initial goals were to take Calcutta, Diamond Harbor and all point east of there. The goal was to gain limited access to resources and HI while forcing the Allies to start the battle of Burma at a much greater distance from the DEI.

The plan, at the Strategic level was a success, but not for what I intended. It seems forever ago but my invasion initially took Chittagong and Diamond Harbor fairly easily. I missed a quick grab of Calcutta by barely more then a day! [:@] Reinforcements arrived to stave off my initial assault and so we bogged down outside of Calcutta while my remaining forces swept east and north to eventually gain all of eastern India (exception of Ledo) and north through Darjeeling. My hope was a Grand Offensive to swing around north of Calcutta to then force him to retreat. Little did I know that Lew was now reacting by shifting ALL ground reinforcements to India. Suddenly I found American and Australian units pouring into the region to aid their Indian and British counterparts. The ground war became very bloody.

As this transpired my opponent took an inspired gamble by staging a counter-landing at Chittagong using roughly 4-6 Brigade-sized Infantry units with another 8-10 support units. The was brilliant in that it caught me completely flat-footed. Chittagong fell and I was forced to pull back troops from the front to retake my base. This took roughly a month of time to play out and it cost the Japanese waaaaaay too much time to do. By the time the Allied lodgement was crushed, more reinforced had arrived at the front and the Allies were able to begin a counter-offensive.

As I was forced to deal with the Allied landing and major victory was scored at sea in the Bay of Bengal. The Japanese had been planning a concentrated naval raid against Ceylon and the western coast of India. When the Allies attack began, the ENTIRE Japanese carrier fleet had just departed Singapore. While Lew covered his landing at Chittagong, his CAP was worn down by Japanese land-based raids that did little damage to shipping but set-up the great victory to follow. A three day battle then followed that, more-or-less, destroyed the Allied carrier forces. The Lexington, Saratoga, Enterprise, Hornet, Formidable, and CVL Hermes were sunk. In exchange the Japanese lost CarDiv2 (Hiryu/Soryu). While losing these CVs was serious for the Japanese, the victory decisively set the table for total Japanese control of the IO. Numerous raids against Ceylon and the west coast of India have added many sinkings to the total list in this arena.

The Japanese I-Boats have been fantastically successful in helping to finish off CVs Hornet and Illustrious. Additionally about November 20th, CV Wasp was hit just west of Pearl Harbor by two TTs and has been reported as sunk! I don't believe this for a moment but it is another Allied CV accounted for and, at a minimum, is out of the war for a couple of months.

Here is the current list of major Allied ships sunk:

[John 3rd]

As stated above, the Japanese Fleet's losses have been real but very slight compared to the Allied losses. When one considers the Allied ship's sunk the Kaigun enters the second year of war in a far stronger position then on December 7, 1941. Additions:

CV--Junyo and Hiyo
CVL--Nisshin, Rhujo
BB--Yamato, Musashi
CA--the two new Tone-Kai
CL--two more Agano's (four total now)
DD--19

Additional Reinforcements Arriving in the front half of 1943:
CV--All THREE Shokaku-Kai
BC--One of the Kawachi (the other in July)
CL--the last pair of Agano's
DD--12

With the crippling losses to the Allied Fleet it is quite possible the Japanese will have total Naval Supremacy into 1944.

Currently the Fleet is divided with all the BBs operating on bombardment missions along the west coast of Burma (Allies have take Cox's Bizarre and all points north) covered by CVs Junyo/Hiyo, a CVL, and 3 CVE. The Kido Butai (4 CV and 4 CVL), all BC, most of CAs, and lesser warships are at Rabaul currently upgrading aircraft and planning on a move towards Johnston Isle.

[John 3rd]

Here is the Tracker shot of Allied air losses by total numbers. Notice that December 7, 1942 was particularly good A-t-A day over the battleground of Akyab:

[John 3rd]

The air war has primarily been fought over the skies of India and Burma as well as the in the Bay of Bengal:

[John 3rd]

The biggest changes that the Reluctant Admiral brings to conventional AE is the addition of the revamped 4th Circle Naval Building plan and a massive re-tooling of the IJN Air Arm. The Zero development line is radically changed by the creation of a branching production line between the CV-Based Zero vs. the Land-Based Interceptor. There is no Jack in this game.

The changes to the Zero have been effective to this date in the game. The accelerated introduction schedule as well as the new Interceptors have very useful within my campaign. I'd say they have enabled the Japanese to maintain air parity through the end of 1942/beginning of 1943. The Zeros, in combination with Tojos and Nicks, have really served to plaster the Allied Fighter and Bomber forces over India. Tojo is still the best Japanese fighter at this point but they have been admirably aided by the Zeros.

Additionally, I've learned pretty early on the value of fighting over my own bases. Pilots losses, while serious, have not been overwhelming whatsoever. The battles of the skies of Dacca, then Chittagong, and now Akyab have bloodied the Allied Air Force repeatedly.

Lew has been faced with throwing older, more vulnerable planes into the fight with lesser skilled pilots. It has been terrible to watch as my Sea Eagles and Army Aces wrack-up the kills. The only problem, like boxing Rocky Balboa, is that Lew keeps right on coming. His persistence will eventually grind me down just like in the real war.

This serves as my One Year set of Updates. Thoughts? Questions?